Folding machine



Feb. 15, 1938. A. cs. GILBERT 2,103,199

FOLDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 18, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTOR $5M ca QM Yhowbv K go-wbill ATTORNEYS Feb. 15,1938. A. 5. GILBERT 2,108,199

FOLDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 18, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNE VS- Feb. 15, 1938. AG. GILBERT 2,108,199

FOLDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 18, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 4 u I m "5mm" 4 -wr H INVENTOR: 23 A m 4 M mmm.mm 6294M ATTORNEYS,

Patented Feb. 15, 1938 FQLDING MACHINE Alfred G. Gilbert, South Acton,

Mass, assignor to Reece Folding Machine Company, Boston, Mass, a corporation of Maine Application December 18, 1935, Serial No. 54,999

6 Claims.

This invention relates to folding machines, namely of that class used for the infolding of edges of cloth blanks, as for collars, cuifs and the like.

The invention relates more particularly to the defining templet or die elementof folding machines, an object being to provide a templet of general utility, having movable plates which are retractible from the folds and expansible to original or defining position. A particular object is to afford a templet mechanism wherein the defining plates may be retracted in readily adjustable directions or variable angles of movement, and to provide for this purpose a platecarrying and operating mechanism which is readily adjustable and which efiectively retracts the plates from the folds and accurately returns them to normal position without the lost motion and inaccuracy that sometimes occurs, especially with certain shapes of blank.

The invention is illustrated as applied to the infolding of collar top blanks having a sharp or acute angle at each of two corners, the blanks to be folded at the two ends and along one side but, as usual, remaining unfolded at the opposite long side. Examples of folding machines for the handling of sharp corner blanks are shown in the prior patents of W. L. Dixon No. 1,591,613 of July 6, 1926 and No. 1,648,450 of November 8, 1927, in each of which the machine comprises the usual bed or support for the blanks, the lowering and rising templet or die which defines the blanks on the support, the infolders moving inwardly and outwardly to fold the blank edges over the edges of the templet, usually in sequence at the sharp corners, and means for eifecting squeezing pressure upon the folds, preferably between the infolders and bed and after the retraction of the templet plates from the folds. In these prior machines the defining plates are movably supported beneath a templet body member or so-called crosshead, which is mounted to move up and down, for example upon carrying arms swinging from a rear axle. Said prior patents show particular means of retracting the templet plates, the end plates moving at a diagonal angle so as to clear the end and side folds of the blank. The present invention provides a novel mounting of the die plates and mechanism for operating them to retract and expand as described; and the illustrated arrangement permits the end or corner plates to be retracted at the necessary sharp angle without the necessity of cutting clearances at the edges of the infolder plates.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will be explained in the hereinafter following description of an illustrative embodiment thereof or will be understood by those conversant with the subject. To the attain- 5 ment of such objects and advantages this invention consists in the novel folding machine and templet and the novel features of combination, arrangement and construction herein illustrated or described.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a general side elevation of a sufficient portion of an infolding machine to explain the present invention, this view being on small scale and taken partly in section on a fore-andaft vertical plane, the die or templet shown in its lowered position, but in dotted lines raised.

Fig. 2 is an inside face view of an infolded blank such as may be defined and folded with the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the central portion and left end of the templet of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of so much of the templet as is shown in Fig. 3, with the blank defining plates omitted.

Fig. 5 is a fore-and-aft vertical section view looking from the right taken on the Section line 5-5 of Fi 3.

Fig. 6 is a similar section View taken on the line E-$ of Fig. 3 or Fig. 4.

Fig. '7 is an exploded View of the component parts constituting the left end of the templet, and representing the symmetrically similar parts at the right end.

Fig. 8 is a partial plan view showing angular adjustments of both adjusting disks and indicating the resulting extraction movement.

The usual bed or blank support 28 is indicated, and slidable thereover inf olders 2i suitably shaped and operated to effect the folding of the blank edges, in this case the rear side edge and the left and right end edges of a blank 22'of collar top shape, as indicated in Fig. 2.

A templet body or crosshead frame 23 is shown as a rigid longitudinal casting attached near its ends to a pair of carrying arms 24 which are secured to a longitudinal rear axle or rockshaft 25, so that by the rocking of this axle the templet as a whole may be lowered upon and lifted from the blanks on the bed. A rear rock arm 26 and link 21 may extend to a cam for this purpose, as in said patents.

The mounting of the defining plates on the crosshead is shown as follows. Underneath the body 23 is shown a T-shape center carriage 28 slidable in a transverse or fore-and-aft manner, and at each end is an end carriage 29, mounted under the body in a manner permitting not only fore-and-aft movement but longitudinal or right and left movement, thus aifording the desired diagonal extraction. A strong spring 30 is shown interconnecting the end carriages 29, tending to pull them into retracted positions. The carriage 28 by its top part 23 is guided rigidly in a way 28 formed in the under side of the body 23, extending fore-and-aft. On the carriages 28 and 29 are mounted blocks 3| and 32 longitudinally adjustable on the carriage for size. The block 3! carries the center templet plate or section 33 while the blocks 32 carry the end sections or defining plates 34. The complete outline of the blank is thus aiiorded; all of the sections are movable forwardly in unison to retract them from the rear infold; and the end sections are simultaneously retractible longitudinally, affording the necessary diagonal angle to retract cleanly from the sharp corner infolds of the folded blank.

On the templet body or crosshead is movably mounted a system of parts which undergo timed fore-and-aft movements, afiording the corresponding movements in the described carriages, blocks and templet sections. One of these parts is a longitudinal bar 3?, or preferably a parallel pair of such bars, as shown, movable fore-andaft in sliding contact at the under side of the body 23. The center carriage 28 is shown attached fixedly to the bars 31 so as to partake of the fore-and-aft movements, while the end carriages 29 are engaged slidab-ly therewith, so as to partake of the fore-and-aft movements While leaving the carriages free to slide longitudinally. Another member of this system is the upper longitudinal bar or horizontal plate 38, spaced somewhat above the templet body and in contacting relation above and below with the adjusting disks 59 and 65 to be described. These bars 31 and 38 are indirectly interconnected with each other, as will be described, and with an actuating transverse slide bar 4%], movable fore-and-aft near the center part of the body and extending out rearward to where, at its rear end, it carries a forked end ii straddling the axle 25 and thereby guided thereon. The actuating slide bar ie is mounted upon the top of the head by front and rear recessed guide blocks 39. Projecting rightwardly from the actuating bar is a pin or follower 42 engaging the groove of a cam 43 loose on the axle 25 and movable by convenient connections from, the usual main shaft or timing mechanism to afiord the timed fore-and-aft movements of the bar 55 and consequently the retracting and expanding movements of the templet sections, this general plan of an actuating cam at the axis of templet swinging being well known.

The parts interconnecting the actuating bar t!) with the longitudinal bars 3? and 38 to compel them to move as a system comprise the following. A block Mis set between the bars 38 and 43, with bolts 45 or other means for rigidly but adjustably interconnecting them. At the front end of the bar 45 is a short upstanding bracket Ql interconnected by a bolt 48 with a block 49 upstanding from the bar 33. When bolts 45 are loosened the nuts on bolt 8 may be turned to adjust the position of bar 38 and connected parts. The bar 38 at its ends operates through the end mechanisms to be described to move fore-and-aft the end carriages 29, which,

being grooved to receive the twin bars 31 cause the latter to shift fore-and-aft along with the center carriage 28 to which they are bolted. By these means the entire system comprising the lower and upper longitudinal bars 31 and 38 is moved forwardly to contract, and rearwardly to expand the templet. As described the center carriage 23 with the center defining plate 33 moves fore-and-aft with this system, in a straight line; and it new remains to describe the mounting, control, and adjustment for the end carriages 23 carrying the end templet sections 34; and as this mechanism is preferably the same at both ends of the templet, only that at the left end will be described.

The end carriage 29, as already described, is slidable in both directions underneath the templet body 23, being longitudinally grooved to engage the longitudinal bar or bars 37. When these bars shift frontwardly with the carriages the latter are simultaneously given a longitudinal movement toward the center, resulting in the desired diagonal movement best for extraction from the sharp corner folds. The carriage is shown maintained in sliding contact with the under side of the body by means of a large vertical stud 55 having its shouldered lower end fixed in the carriage, and extending upwardly through the body, which has an open recess to permit the horizontal movements, and upwardly through the adjusting disks to be described, and through the recessed longitudinal bar 38, the stud being provided near its top end with a washer 55 and a stud head 57. The washer and head may be both threaded on to the stud and lock with each other in position to confine snugly the assembled parts while permitting the horizontal movements.

The angle adjusting means comprises one or preferably two disks, that may conveniently be circular as shown. Thus, beneath the washer is an upper disk 59 overlying the bar 38. This has an extended radial slot 60 accommodating a slide block 6| having a hole El snugly engaged by the stud 55, rather than engaging the stud directly in the slot. The upper disk 53 may be adjusted to different radial positions of its slot and when adjusted is secured to the top side of the bar 38 by set screws '62 passing through concentric slots in the disk. When adjusted the disk 59 thereby becomes in efiect a rigid part of the fore-and-aft or transversely moving system. The slot 59 is shown in Fig. 3 set longitudinal, so that by it the block '6! and stud 55 are simply moved fore-and-aft, while the stud and the block, together with the carriage 23 beneath are all free for en-dwise movement as controlled by the second or lower disk 65 next to be described.

The lower disk 55 is directly above the body 23 and has a diametrical underneath slot, in which plays a slide block 8?, near the central part or" which is a hole 57 which the stud 55 snugly engages, the stud passing through a radial slot 66 at the upper part of the disk. The disk 65 and its radial slot may be set to different diagonal directions, being shown at a suitable slant to cause defining plate extraction from certain shapes of infolded blanks. When adjusted the disk is fixed to the templet body 23 by a set screw 68, its slot thereby constituting a relatively fixed (but adjustable) slideway for the shifting of the block 6?. The set screw passes through a concentric slot in the lower disk and enters a threaded hole in the body; and for access to the screw for loosening and tightening it there are provided openings or windows in the bar 38 and disk 59 above.

The actual retracting motion of the end or corner templet section 34 is a diagonal resultant due to the adjusted positions of the two disks, namely the relatively fixed lower disk 65 and the fore-and-aft moving upper disk 59. With the angles shown, the forward movement of the actuating system, including the upper disk, causes the stud and carriage to move frontwardly, but the play of the block 61 in the slot 65 of the lower disk compels a longitudinal component and thus determines the actual diagonal retracting movement of the templet section, in this case at the same angle as that of the slot 66, and to a distance determined by that angle and by the forward throw of the system caused by the cam 43.

Obviously the upper disk may be adjusted angularly and then the retracting motion will be determined by the two disks, or their guide slots, in connection with the cam throw. The adaptability is practically universal and any resultant is obtainable without need of altering the cam 43 or its throw. The large vertical stud is a sort of axle, about which the adjustments are made, the slides engaging the stud, and the slides sliding in the disks, all without lost motion or appreciable wear. The stud and disks are normally concentric. The simple forward shift by the cam retracts the two corner plates from the rear corners of the blank while the center plate comes simply forward out of the rear fold of the blank.

With an excessively pointed collar top shape, or equivalent, where the angle is abnormally sharp this invention gives great advantage. When the corner angle is nearly 90 the under disk can give the necessary motion without inclining the upper disk, the under disk delivering the full throw caused by the front shift due to the cam 43. With the very acute angle this would be impractical and the adjustment of the upper disk is important. This, if the shifting system moves front- Ward a sufficient distance to retract the templet corner plate clear from the rear blank fold, this shift, if determined alone by the fixed lower disk might have to be at such a steep angle that the templet end edge would not fully retract, and would underlap the end infolder, even so much as to prevent the rising of the templet from. the blank. By adjusting the shiftable upper disk to a proper slant in conjunction with the slant of the under disk, this can be corrected. Thus turning the upper disk slightly from longitudinal will permit the frontward plate movement to be reduced while yet producing the necessary endwise inward retraction. For example the under disk can be set at an angle nearer to 90 and the upper disk turned to give the desired total extent of retraction. With a given cam throw the two disks may be adjusted at the same time to afford the necessary resultant angle and distance of retraction to withdraw about equally from the long rear folded edge and the short end infold, thus clearing the infolders at both edges. In other words to secure the proper result from the lower disk the frontward shift need not be long but only medium, and the upper disk set to give the desired resultant retraction. The sharper the blank angle the more important becomes the modifying adjustment of the slotted upper disk.

While in Fig. 3 the upper disk is set with its slot longitudinal and the lower disk with its slot about 45, Fig. 8 shows the lower disk at a steeper angle, and the upper disk reset at a slight angle.

When the upper disk 59, stud 55 and end carriage move transversely frontward, the slot in the lower disk compels the stud to move longitudinally inward to position 55 while the disk slideblocks 6! and 6! move to 6 l and til as indicated.

The direction and distance from 55 to 55 determine the angular retracting movement of the carriage and defining plate and the distance of such retraction; both of which are therefore universally adjustable to suit the conditions at hand, the third factor or distance of frontward shift caused by cam 43 being non-adjustable.

There has thus been described a folding machine fulfilling the purposes of the. present invention and embodying its principles; butsince many matters of operation, combination and construction may be variously modified within the scope of the invention, the claims are not intended to be limited to such matters except to the extent set forth in the respective claims.

I claim:

1. In or for a collar blank folding machine a templet fitted to descend upon and rise from. the blank, and having a rigid body, a pair of end carriages each movable both longitudinally and transversely at the underside of the body, a pair of end defining plates carried by the respective carriages, and connections for retracting said carriages and plates along adjustable different angles of movement, comprising a bar movable to and fro transverely on the body and engaged by both carriages so that the carriages move therewith while capable of sliding longitudinally thereof, a stud projecting vertically from each carriage, and for each carriage and stud a disk adjustable on the body in a rotary manner about such stud and having a way engaged by such stud, and means for independently fixing each of the two disks in a predetermined angular adjust ment, thereby determining independently the angles of movement of the two carriages and defining plates.

2. in or for a folding machine a templet fitted to descend upon and rise from a blank, and having a rigid body, a carriage movable both longitudinally and transversely at the underside of the body and carrying a blank defining plate, and connections for retracting the carriage and plate along an adjustable angle of movement, comprising a first bar movable to and frotransversely on the body and engaged by the carriage so that the carriage moves therewith while capable of sliding longitudinally thereof, a stud projecting vertically from the carriage, a first disk angularly adjustable on the body and having a way engaged by said stud, and means for fixing the first disk in a predetermined angular adjustment thereby determining the angle of movement of the carriage and defining plate; together with a second bar, a second disk having a way and constituting an engaging means between said stud and second bar, and means for fixing the second disk on the second bar at predetermined angular adjustment of its way; the setting of the two disks determining the resulting motion of the stud and carriage.

3. In or for a folding machine a templet fitted to descend upon and rise from a blank, and having a rigid body, a carriage movable both longitudinally and transversely at the underside of the body and carrying a blank defining plate, and connections for retracting the carriage and plate along an adjustable angle of movement, comprising a first bar movable to and fro transversely on the body and engaged by the carriage so that the carriage moves therewith while capable of sliding longitudinally thereof, a stud projecting vertically from the carriage, a first disk angularly adjustable on the body and having a way engaged by said stud, and means for fixing the first disk in a predetermined angular adjustment thereby determining the angle of movement of the carriage and defining plate; together with a second bar, a second disk having a way and constituting the engaging means between said stud and second bar, and means for fixing the second disk on the second bar at predetermined angular adjustment of its Way; the two disks being arranged to pivot and adjust concentrically on said stud, independently of each other, and the setting of the two disks determining the resulting motion of the stud and carriage.

4. In or for a folding machine a templet fitted to descend upon and rise from a blank, and having a rigid body, a carriage movable both longitudinally and transversely at the underside of the body and carrying a blank defining plate, and connections for retracting the carriage and plate along an adjustable angle of movement, comprising a longitudinal lower bar movable to and fro transversely on the body and engaged by the carriage so that the carriage moves therewith while capable of shifting longitudinally thereof, a stud projecting vertically from the carriage, a lower disk rotatingly adjustable on the body and having a radial slot occupied by a slide block in which said stud engages, an upper bar and an upper disk independently adjustable therein and having a radial slot occupied by a slide block in which said stud engages, and means for fixing the disks in predetermined angular adjustments thereby determining the movement of the carriage and defining plate.

5. A templet as in claim 4 and wherein the upper disk is mounted adjustably on said upper bar to move with it and carry transversely the stud and carriage, while the slide block in said upper disk is movable along said slot as controlled by the engagement of the stud with the block of the lower disk, thus giving the stud and carriage a longitudinal component, and an angular resultant movement.

6. A templet having a body, a center carriage carrying a center defining plate and movable transversely on the body, an end carriage movable both longitudinally and transversely on the body and carrying an end defining plate, and connections for retracting both carriages transversely and the end carriage also longitudinally with adjustable angle of movement, comprising a longitudinal bar movable to and fro transversely on the body and connected to move both carriages transversely while the end carriage is capable of sliding longitudinally with resultant diagonal retraction, a stud projecting vertically from the end carriage, a first disk angularly adjustable on the body and having a way or slot engaged by said stud, a second disk angularly adjustable on the longitudinal bar and having a Way or slot engaged by said stud, and means for fixing the disks in various predetermined angular adjustments thereby determining the angle and distance of movement of the end carriage and defining plate.

ALFRED G. GILBERT. 

